Page 12 of Tricky Princess
“Of course, I know what brunch is.” Duhne glowered at her over his shoulder.
Ellea snapped her mouth closed, not wanting to say the wrong thing. She once again had so much to learn.
Reaver bowed to both of them before walking through the door Ellea had tried to open earlier. “Right away.”
“Why didn’t he come back the way he came?”
He laughed. “Through the bookcase? How ridiculous.”
Ellea blinked at him a few times. He only winked and turned toward the same door.
“Come, princess, let’s go sit and wait for brunch,” he said over his shoulder.
“I’m not a princess, for fuck’s sake.
She came to a skittering halt as soon as she crossed the threshold into the massive hallway. It was bustling with mostly human-looking people and some not, all rushing around. Some were talking to companions, while others mingled near a window or corner. There was a group of females giggling to one another in hushed tones, and a scaly green creature walked by her, holding a stack of dark linens. Snapping her mouth shut, she hurried after Duhne. She tried to ignore the side glances and gawking directed at her by taking in the detail of the hallway. It was tall and lit by giant windows on either end. White marble mixed with the black and gold colors Ellea was used to from Azzy’s side of the castle. It was so much brighter and open, and it made her feel vulnerable. She slowly reached toward her thigh and lightly stroked the solid handle of her dagger. Knowing it was there brought her a shred of comfort. Her powers lightly crackled at her fingertips, and the sound of a sharp squeak drew her attention to a demon at the height of her hip. It had seen the movement and was now shuffling away with steam wafting off the tendrils of its hair, holding a jack-o’-lantern almost the same size as its small body.
“Are those Halloween decorations?” She couldn’t help the high-pitched tone that came out.
Duhne turned, walking backwards and looking at her as though she had three heads. “We aren’t barbarians; of course, those are Halloween decorations.”
Ellea’s eyes roamed the halls again; people were taking down wicked and adorable Halloween decor. It made her homesick, remembering how spectacularly Glenover had been decorated before she was taken away.
“Why are there so many more people here?” she asked, running to catch up with Duhne.
“Only a few venture into my uncle’s wing.”
“Why?”
“Because.” It was said with such finality, but she didn’t care.
“Because why?” She came to a quick stop as he whirled toward her.
“Because that is the way it is,” he said with a hint of annoyance. He shifted his shoulders and gave her a small smile. “Things tend to be what they are here. They don’t need an explanation.”
“That’s stupid.” He arched a brow in response. “Everything has a reason for being a certain way.”
“Well…” He paused and chewed on his response. “I don’t have an answer for you.”
He turned away and continued down the massive hallway. She cursed her short legs and tried to compose her rushed stride. Her stomach fluttered when she couldn’t ignore the countless looks and whispers. Duhne had turned sharply down a narrow hallway, and she was about to tell him to slow down when she was shoved against the wall. No, not against it, into it. A shadowy mist surrounded her as something pushed her through what should have been a solid surface. It wasn’t painful, but strange.
“Don’t speak, little one,” he whispered before turning away from her. The misty wall somehow held his weight as he leaned against it.
Ellea took a deep breath, trying to ignore her fear of being in a dark and enclosed space. Swallowing past the lump in her throat, she pressed against the wall, but it wouldn’t budge.
“Duhne…” It was a weak whine, but he picked at his nails with mock boredom as two people slowly crept toward him.
“Cousins.” He didn’t bother looking at them. “What are you doing on my side of the castle?”
They were beautiful in a scary sort of way, two red-headed twins. The woman was lean and elegant with sharp features and bright green eyes. They were almost neon compared to Duhne’s, which were the color of a field in the summertime. Her brother was slightly broader but equally sharp. His eyes were the same. With the mist and marble obscuring her vision, even the pattern of their freckles looked the same.
“Are you hiding something, Duhne?” they said together.
“What would I be hiding?” She could sense the roll of his eyes.
“Maybe a little witch?” the man suggested.
“The staff can’t keep their mouth shut about her,” the woman added as both of them peeked around him, studying the wall.
